3 ms·

If you look at Reddit, almost any comment saying anything positive about Israel (or negative about the Palestinians) is downmodded massively. Enough of HN is f

If you look at Reddit, almost any comment saying anything positive about Israel (or negative about the Palestinians) is downmodded massively. Enough of HN is from Reddit that you're almost certain to get the same sort of thing here, too. Disclaimer to the downmodders: I'm not pro-Israel at all--I just think this sort of downmodding the other side of an issue, regardless of the merits of the post itself, is ridiculous.

palish 18y ago
Yeah. Personally, I think it's OK to use downmodding as an expression of disagreement. (If I'm saying something stupid, I want my karma to take a hit for it.) However, as soon as the comment reaches -2 or maybe -3 max, then that has to stop, because any score lower than that needs to be reserved for troll comments.
- ars 18y ago
  No, I don't think that's OK. Downmod stuff that's wrong, downmod trolls. And upmod the good stuff. Leave the stuff you disagree with alone. And if you can't tell the difference between "wrong" and "disagree with" then leave it alone. And for stuff that's wrong, downmod just a little as a signal to people, especially if there are comments correcting it. Everyone is wrong sometimes, unless the person is flamebaiting there is no reason to punish someone for being wrong. The philosophy of HN is upmod the good stuff - there is a reason you can't downmod a story.
ars 18y ago
Disclaimer to the downmodders: I'm not pro-Israel at all--I just think this sort of downmodding the other side of an issue, regardless of the merits of the post itself, is ridiculous. Sigh, I was going to upmod you, and then you added that. That's EXACTLY the problem! You shouldn't need to kowtow to the "popular" position in order to not get downmodded! Wasn't that exactly the point of your comment? You are basically saying that if people think you are pro-israel you will be downmodded - that's disgusting.
- DarkShikari 18y ago
  You are basically saying that if people think you are pro-israel you will be downmodded - that's disgusting. But that's the entire point of this post--that's what happened right here in this thread! People are downmodding because of contrary opinions, whether we like it or not. By the way, I'm not pro-Palestine either--I would say I'm neutral, but it's more of a case of "I could care less, and it helps me avoid wasting time on useless flamewars."
  - ars 18y ago
    I know you recognized the problem. But why didn't you resist? Why did you add that? By the way, I'm not pro-Palestine either--I would say I'm neutral, but it's more of a case of "I could care less, and it helps me avoid wasting time on useless flamewars." I don't need to know your position on Israel/Palestine in order to decide if I should up or downmod you. You are too used to reddit. You had a good point, and again here, you should have stopped there. Don't feed the people downmodding because of contrary opinions by posting your opinion if it has nothing to do with your point. Yes there are some people doing that, but I think most HN's are not. Trust that they will do the right thing, and don't encourage people who will do the wrong thing.
pg 18y ago
Enough of HN is from Reddit that you're almost certain to get the same sort of thing here, too. Though many News.YC users used Reddit before (or may still), the people who've migrated here are not randomly selected Reddit users. Judging by their comments, News.YC users seem quite different from Reddit users.
- LogicHoleFlaw 18y ago
  Yep, some of us came from Slashdot ;)

palish 18y ago

Yeah. Personally, I think it's OK to use downmodding as an expression of disagreement. (If I'm saying something stupid, I want my karma to take a hit for it.) However, as soon as the comment reaches -2 or maybe -3 max, then that has to stop, because any score lower than that needs to be reserved for troll comments.

ars 18y ago
No, I don't think that's OK. Downmod stuff that's wrong, downmod trolls. And upmod the good stuff. Leave the stuff you disagree with alone. And if you can't tell the difference between "wrong" and "disagree with" then leave it alone. And for stuff that's wrong, downmod just a little as a signal to people, especially if there are comments correcting it. Everyone is wrong sometimes, unless the person is flamebaiting there is no reason to punish someone for being wrong. The philosophy of HN is upmod the good stuff - there is a reason you can't downmod a story.

ars 18y ago

Disclaimer to the downmodders: I'm not pro-Israel at all--I just think this sort of downmodding the other side of an issue, regardless of the merits of the post itself, is ridiculous. Sigh, I was going to upmod you, and then you added that. That's EXACTLY the problem! You shouldn't need to kowtow to the "popular" position in order to not get downmodded! Wasn't that exactly the point of your comment? You are basically saying that if people think you are pro-israel you will be downmodded - that's disgusting.

DarkShikari 18y ago
You are basically saying that if people think you are pro-israel you will be downmodded - that's disgusting. But that's the entire point of this post--that's what happened right here in this thread! People are downmodding because of contrary opinions, whether we like it or not. By the way, I'm not pro-Palestine either--I would say I'm neutral, but it's more of a case of "I could care less, and it helps me avoid wasting time on useless flamewars."
- ars 18y ago
  I know you recognized the problem. But why didn't you resist? Why did you add that? By the way, I'm not pro-Palestine either--I would say I'm neutral, but it's more of a case of "I could care less, and it helps me avoid wasting time on useless flamewars." I don't need to know your position on Israel/Palestine in order to decide if I should up or downmod you. You are too used to reddit. You had a good point, and again here, you should have stopped there. Don't feed the people downmodding because of contrary opinions by posting your opinion if it has nothing to do with your point. Yes there are some people doing that, but I think most HN's are not. Trust that they will do the right thing, and don't encourage people who will do the wrong thing.

pg 18y ago

Enough of HN is from Reddit that you're almost certain to get the same sort of thing here, too. Though many News.YC users used Reddit before (or may still), the people who've migrated here are not randomly selected Reddit users. Judging by their comments, News.YC users seem quite different from Reddit users.

LogicHoleFlaw 18y ago
Yep, some of us came from Slashdot ;)